17.03.2025 20:10
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that he has instructed the Lebanese army to retaliate in response to the clashes occurring at the Syria-Lebanon border.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun pointed to the mutual fire that began last night between Syria and Lebanon in a written statement.
ORDER TO 'RETALIATE' TO THE ARMY Stating that "there is no possibility for the continuation of what is happening on the eastern and northeastern border, and we will not accept its continuation," Aoun reported that he has given orders to the army to respond to the fire.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun WHAT HAPPENED? According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, the Ministry of Defense stated, "A group of Hezbollah militants kidnapped three members of the Syrian army at the Syria-Lebanon border. They then took them to Lebanese territory and eliminated them." Regarding the incident, which reportedly occurred near the Zeya Dam west of Homs, it was stated, "After this dangerous escalation by Hezbollah militants, the Ministry of Defense will take all necessary precautions." The ministry reported that they have sent reinforcement support forces to the border.
HEZBOLLAH DENIED THE ATTACK Hezbollah, in a statement, denied any involvement in clashes with Syrian security forces or on Syrian territory. Hezbollah stated that it "categorically denies any connection to the events that occurred today at the Lebanon-Syria border." The statement also noted that Hezbollah confirmed its previous statements asserting that it has no relation to any incidents on Syrian territory.
The Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that rockets fired from Syrian territory fell into the village of Kasr, near the Lebanese border. Hezbollah also made a similar statement, saying, "A series of rockets fired from the rural area of Qusayr in Syrian territory fell into the border town of Kasr," but did not provide further details. Hezbollah was one of the main supporters of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad before he was overthrown by militants in a lightning operation in December.
SYRIAN OFFICIALS: HEZBOLLAH IS SUPPORTING SMUGGLING GANGS New Syrian officials announced last month that they had launched a security campaign aimed at closing the routes used for arms and goods smuggling in the border province of Homs. Officials accused Hezbollah of carrying out attacks and stated that Hezbollah has supported cross-border smuggling gangs.
CLAIM OF 'CONFLICT OCCURRED' According to the UAE-based television channel Al Arabiya, clashes occurred between Syrian forces and the Hezbollah group at the Syria-Lebanon border. It was reported that at least one Syrian soldier was killed and many soldiers were injured in the clashes.
MILITARY CONVOY IN THE CONFLICT AREA The Ministry of Defense dispatched reinforcement convoys consisting of dozens of vehicles to the contact lines with Hezbollah in the western rural area of Homs. The convoys include armored personnel carriers, tanks, and ammunition. Drones belonging to the Ministry of Defense are also monitoring the points where Hezbollah has infiltrated from the air. Mahir Zuvani, one of the military commanders of the Syrian army in Homs province, stated to AA reporters that Hezbollah carried out mortar attacks on some villages near the border, indicating that there were injuries among civilians as a result of the attacks. Zuvani also noted that the Syria-Lebanon border line has been brought under the control of the Ministry of Defense and that new arrangements will be made to ensure the security of the border line in the future.